THE BRINGING UP OF SAMUEL Having lent her son Samuel to the Lord as long as he lives, Hannah beheld him in the house of the Lord, to see in him a symbol of the expected Messiah, who would open up the divine sanctuaries before believers. Then her tongue burst forth to praise the Lord for His gift, not only to her, but to all His people, through presenting the work of salvation in the Messiah. Whereas the two priest sons of Eli, the high priest, violated the law and the statutes, and corrupted the people of God and the sanctuaries, Samuel, the son of Hannah - a woman of faith, prayer, and praise - was raised in a holy life in the Lord. In other words, although Eli’s two sons were raised in a religious atmosphere, they did not enjoy the inner sanctified life; whereas Samuel grew, attached to the spiritual depths of his family, to bear blessed fruition. 1- Hannah’s salvation praise 1 – 10. 2- The son of Elkanah and the two sons of Eli1 1 – 17. 3- God’s blessings to Elkanah and Hannah 18 – 21. 4- Negligence of Eli the priest with his two sons 22 – 36. 1- HANNAH’S SALVATION PRAISE When the Lord realized Hannah’s petition, she gave Him thanksgiving and praise. This is while many of us resort to God in the times of affliction, then forget Him in our times of joy; Hannah, on the other hand, did not forget the Lord and did not thank Him, just for granting Samuel to her, but she rather entered into new depths, seeing in her child a symbol of God’s work of salvation. Her praise came to be close to that of St. Mary, the mother of God (Luke 1: 46 - 55); Hannah’s praise was for the sake of the symbol while that of St. Mary was for the sake of the Messiah Himself. We can say that the opening up of Hannah’s inner tongue, her spiritual insight, and her deep response to the work of God, were all reflected on her son Samuel, who hearkened the gentle voice of the Lord in the temple, while Eli the high priest could not. She fed her son the life of response to God’s work, His call, and His words... something that many of our sons are deprived of, because of the closing up of their parents’ hearts, the blindness of their insights, the heaviness of their tongues in talking to the Lord and praising Him. Getting back to Hannah’s praise, or let us say, her psalm, considered to be a royal1 psalm, if compared to psalms 2: 1; and 4: 10; that refer to the anointed King, we notice the following: a- Hannah started her praise by proclaiming her joy, not just for gaining the gift of Samuel, but because of her enjoyment of the Grantor Himself of that gift; She said: “My heart rejoices in the Lord” (1 Samuel 2: 1). Her inner depths got filled with God Himself, the source of joy; and as said by the apostle Paul: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy...” (Galatians 5: 22) This inner joy, grants the soul the strength, not to collapse under any circumstances; but to say : “My horn is exalted in the Lord” (1 Samuel 2: 1). The use of the term “horn” as a sign of strength, was common in the Hebrew literature2. 1 Nelson: New Catholic Commentary, p. 309. 2 Ibid. 2 She was granted strength, not to spite or to boast over her enemies, but to have her mouth opened to preach them the joy of salvation saying: “My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I rejoice in your salvation” (1 Samuel 2: 1). Nothing would abolish the animosity of enemies, like rejoicing in God’s salvation, that draws the enemies to the enjoyment of the joyful gospel. b- “There is none holy like the Lord; For there is none besides you; Nor there is any rock like the Lord” (1 Samuel 2: 2) If God alone is the holy (Revelation 15: 4), the incarnate holy Word of God (Luke 1: 49) came to bring us to Him, to bear in us the holy life. This is the secret of our salvation; not only because God has forgiven our sins, but because He carried us in Him to partake of His holy life, and to realize in us His commandment: “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11: 44, 45). He is the ‘Rock’ that gave water to the people of Israel in the wilderness to drink and to get fulfilled (Exodus 17: 6; Numbers 20: 11); the apostle Paul says: “They drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them; and that Rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10: 4). c- Having experienced the exalted grace of God, Hannah realized that God’s ways and measures are different from those of humans. While her husband’s other wife ‘Peninnah’ has been a mother of many children, she has been barren in humiliation and shame; then was granted the gift of ‘Samuel,’ to become as though she has given birth to seven children; while her husband’s other wife, who had several children, has become feeble (1 Samuel 2: 5)! So she proclaimed: “The bows of the mighty men are broken, and those who stumbled are girded with strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, and those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. Even the barren has borne seven, and she who has many children has become feeble. The Lord kills and make alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and brings up. He raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the beggar from the ash heap, to set them among princes, and make them inherit the throne of glory” (1 Samuel 2: 4 - 8) So the horns of Peninnah, the haughty, were broken;... and came to be like those who hire themselves out for bread;... she became feeble despite the many children she had;... she lost her life, and became as though, brought down to the grave;... she became poor and brought down to dust. On the contrary, Hannah, by the spirit of humility, became girded, by the hand of God, with strength;... got fulfilled after hunger;... brought forth many children after barrenness;... enjoyed life, after being like the dead;... and was lifted up by the Lord, who granted her dignity to be sit among princesses and to inherit the throne of glory. We can also say that ‘Peninnah’ represents the Jewish people who lived for a long time in faith under the law, to become as men of valor, fulfilled, fruitful, prosperous, dignified, etc.... But having denied faith, they collapsed, became spiritually poor, had their life fading away, and lost their dignity;... whereas ‘Hannah’ represented the Gentiles, who lived weak, hungry, barren, and even as dead, once they believed in the Lord, the Savior, their situation dramatically changed. d- “Even the barren has borne seven, and she who has many children has become feeble” (1 Samuel 2: 5). Hannah did not have seven children, but only one - Samuel, to be followed by three brothers and two sisters (1 Samuel 2: 21); So, what did she mean by the seven? She probably saw in Samuel - as a symbol of the Lord Christ - a perfect man, counted as seven; as the figure 7 means perfection. Or she probably meant, that being a symbol of the Church of the New Testament, whose 3 members come from many nations1, she begot for the Lord many children, through the waters of Baptism; while her husband’s other wife ‘Peninneh,’ a symbol of the Church of the Old Testament, after delivering many children for the Lord, has become feeble, because of her denial of faith in the Messiah. Samuel was a symbol of Christ.... The seven children were the seven Churches; That is why Paul wrote to the 7 Churches; and the book of Revelation dealt with 7 Churches...; So also the 7 angels standing, going in and out before God, according to the words of the archangel Rafael in the book of Tobias; the lamp stand with the 7 lamps in the tabernacle; the 7 eyes of God that keep the world; the stone with the 7 eyes (Zechariah 2: 9); the 7 spirits in the book of Revelation; and the 7 pillars on which wisdom has built her house (Proverb 9: 1). St. Cyprian2 e- “For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s” (1 Samuel 2: 8). An allegoric saying, that reveals God’s care for us; For our sake He set the earth as His own property, and entrusted it to us. He is the Almighty, nothing of our life escapes His eyes; He even cares for the steps of our feet, bringing to naught the snares set for us in the darkness by the wicked ones: “He will guard the feet of His saints, but the wicked shall be silent in darkness” (1 Samuel 2: 9) and as said by the Psalmist: “For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways” (Psalm 91: 11), “He will not let your foot slip - He who watches over you will not slumber” (Psalm 121 3) As long as we are God’s pious, our feet shall be watched, and our peace shall be kept. St. Jerome says: “As long as we are in a condition of grace, our souls shall be kept in peace; But once we start to fall in the depths of sin, our souls shall fall into confusion, to become like a boat struck by waves3”. St. Augustine says: “If you want your feet to be steady over the steps, not to tire, to stumble nor to fall, pray the words: “He will not let your feet slip”...; Nothing shall let the feet slip, but pride. Love will move the feet to walk, and to ascend; whereas pride would lead them to stumble and fall4”. “For by strength no man shall prevail. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces; From heaven He will thunder against them. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth. He will give strength to His king, and exalt the horn of His anointed” (1 Samuel 2: 9, 10). We should know that we could not strive without God’s help; and our strife to gain the gift of great purity, would be of no avail, unless it is granted to us through the divine help and mercy; as “The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the deliverance is of the Lord” (Proverb 21: 31); “For by strength no man shall prevail”. Abbot Paphnotius5 2- THE SON OF ELKANAH, AND THE SONS OF ELI a- What a big difference between the son of Elkanah and Hannah - the son of prayer and faith; and the two sons of Eli the high priest. The first was raised in the fear of God, to become a blessing for himself, for his family, for his people, and even 1 St. Chrysostom: In Matt. Hom 61. 2 Treatise 12: 19. 3 On Ps. Hom 20. 4 On Ps. 21. 5 St. Cassian: Conf. 3:15. 4 for us, having become an example to be followed across generations. The sons of Eli the priest, on the other hand, had abused their father’s position for their own benefit. They forsook their flock to the wolves; and even turned, themselves, into wolves, doing evil and leading the people to transgress. Their father was negligent in restraining them; and when he rebuked them, he spoke with looseness. They brought shame on their father, on their family, and on their people; and became an example of those who are negligent in raising their children. The holy Book calls the sons of Eli, “the sons of Biileal”; and as St. Gregory, the Bishop of Nyssa says: [Those two persons have been called, both as “the sons of Eli” and “ the sons of Bileal”... When they were called “the sons of Eli,” that proclaimed their natural relationship to Eli the priest; and when they were called “the sons of Bileal,” the evil they chose was proclaimed1]. c- It was said about the sons of Eli that “they did not know the Lord” (1 Samuel 2: 12). As priests, they knew much about the Lord, through learning and theoretical knowledge; yet they did not know Him in their conduct and their practical life. And as said by St. John Chrysostom2: [The holy Book tells us of many kinds of knowledge of which was that expressed by the apostle Paul, saying: “They profess to know God, but in words they deny Him” (Titus 1: 16). d- As the hearts of the sons of Eli got corrupted, they despised the rites (1 Samuel 2: 13 - 16); despised the pure life and sanctity, by corrupting the women of God’s people (1 Samuel 2: 22); and despised even God Himself. According to the rite, a priest has the right to eat the breast and the right thigh of the sacrifice, after burning the fat for the Lord (Leviticus 3: 3 - 5); then give the remaining parts to the family of the one who offered the sacrifice (7: 29 - 34); But the sons of Eli behaved differently and corrupted the sanctuaries (1 Samuel 2: 17). When corruption gets into the depths of man, he despises every thing: the rites, as well as the purity, and the right of others even that of God Himself. 3- GOD BLESSES ELKANAH AND HANNAH Samuel began his ministry before the Lord as a child wearing a linen ephod (1 Samuel 2: 18), like an overcoat girded at the waist. St. Jerome believes that the ephod presented by Hannah to her son, was the garment of Levites and not of priests. That ephod was different from that made by ‘Gideon’ (Judges 8: 28), and by ‘Micah’ (Judges 17: 5). The holy Bible confirms that Samuel started his ministry as a child, in a very corrupt priestly atmosphere; that could not be mended nor resisted...; Yet God who saves with a little, as well as with a plenty, used that child for mending. His mother used to bring him a little robe every year like that of kings, prophets, and esquires. It was an inner woolen wear, woven without sewing, going down to the feet (1 Chronicles 15: 27; 1 Samuel 15: 27). That annual robe, represented a continuous renewal of the loving family relationships. Although she presented her child to the Lord, she is renewing her vow, confirming her prayers for her son, and reminding her son of his mission, as a nazarite to the Lord, through bringing him that robe. By her annual visit, she probably meant to guard her son against corruption and offense, because of Eli’s two sons. 4- ELI’S NEGLIGENCE WITH HIS SONS a- Eli’s reproach to his two sons was not firm enough. He knew that they corrupted the women assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting, turning 1Against Eunomius 3: 6. 2 On John. Hom. 50:1. 5 God’s sanctuary into a place of defilement; and the haven of peace into a location of perdition for the women ministering the tabernacle. All what Eli did was to reveal to his sons the seriousness of their deeds, without any sort of chastisement against them. He proclaimed to them: “You make the Lord’s people transgress. If one man sins against another, God will judge him. But if a man sins against the Lord, who will intercede for him?” (1 Samuel 2: 24, 25) Novatian used this phrase, to close the door of repentance before the fallen; but St. Ambrose rebutted him, saying: [It is not written, ‘Nobody will pray for him,’ but ‘Who will pray for him?’; namely, ‘Who can pray for him in that situation?; It would be difficult, but not impossible1!]. b- Amid that corruption, a man of God (a prophet) was sent to Eli the priest before getting condemned (1 Samuel 2: 27), to remind him of the honor that God has granted his family since the days of Aaron (Exodus 4: 14 - 16); having been privileged to present the offerings and incense on the altar of God; to put on the ephod and other items that proclaim God’s will toward His priests; beside getting a great portion of the offerings (Leviticus 10: 12 - 15). Due to all that, there was no excuse for Eli the priest to be slothful in chastising his two sons, who despised the divine sanctities. That warning was a new opportunity offered by God, for Eli the priest to try to put every thing in order. yet, through his weak personality, he did not honor God by chastising them, but despised Him through his negligence to apply the statutes of the law (Deuteronomy 13), that proclaims that man should have no compassion on a relative, on the expense of divine sanctities. c- The Lord says: “Those who honor Me, I will honor, and those who despise Me, will be disdained” (1 Samuel 2: 30). How should we honor the Lord? St. Cyprian answers saying, that honoring God is by accepting son hood to Him, and resembling Him as His children (Matthew 5: 43 - 45). For, if it would for humans be a source of joy and glory, to have children who follow their ways..., how much more would be a pleasure for God, to see someone, spiritual in his works and praises, who proclaims the divine exaltation in his life2]. And St. John Chrysostom says: [Let us honor God by our faith as well as by our works, to get the reward through glorifying Him, “Those who honor Me, I will honor (glorify) “. Indeed, even if there is no reward, through glorifying God we glorify ourselves... For, what a glory for us, to have God glorified in our life3]. He also says: [Through honoring God we honor ourselves. Whoever opens his eyes to behold sunlight, will receive joy in himself... Whoever honor God, would do that for the sake of his own salvation and benefit;? For whoever pursues virtue will honor God... So, let us honor God, and carry Him in our bodies and Spirits (1 Corinthians 6: 20) 4]. d- St. John Chrysostom compares between Eli the high priest, who, after getting great privileges, fell under serious judgment, because of his slothfulness; and the prophet Samuel, who was rejected by the people (1 Samuel 8: 7), to be honored by God Himself; And said about the spiritual shepherds: [Insults for them are gains, while honors are a burden5]. 1 Concerning Repentance 1: 40. 2 Treatise 10-15. 3 In Rom. Hom. 8. 4 In 1 Tim. Hom. 4. 5 In 2 Tim. Hom. 2. 6 e- The man of God proclaimed to Eli the high priest, God’s chastisements to him and his descendants: Removing priesthood from his house (1 Samuel 2: 30): ‘Abiathar’ was removed from being a priest to God, in the days of king Solomon, and was replaced by Zadok, a descendant of Eleazar, followed by his descendants up to the days of the Lord Christ. Loss of strength from his household: all his descendants were to die in the flower of their age (1 Samuel 2: 31). - To see the ark of God captured by the Philistines (1 Samuel 4: 11). - His descendants would wish to die, but their wish would be denied: “Every one of you that I do not cut off from my altar, will be spared only to blind your eyes with tears and to grieve your heart” (1 Samuel 2: 33) He gave him, as a bitter sign of the divine chastisement, that both his sons would die in the same day (1 Samuel 2: 33; 4: 11). Yet God did not end His proclamation by that, but He, as usual, opened the door of hope; namely the coming of the true Priest - the Savior Messiah. St. Hyppolitus sees in God’s saying through His man: “Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall be according to what is in My heart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed forever. And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left in your house will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and say, ‘Please, put me in one of the priestly positions, that I may eat a piece of bread” (1 Samuel 2: 35 - 36)a prophecy about the coming of the Lord Christ, the High Priest of the New Testament. He says: [All the kings and priests were called ‘the Lord’s anointed’. having been anointed with the holy oil, that was prepared by Moses in the old days, they bore the name of the Lord in themselves; displaying a symbol and presenting an image, until the time, when the perfect King and the Priest from heaven will come, who, alone, will do according to the will of the Father1]. 1 Frag. From Comm. On Daniel 2: 14.
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